There is a trend in Young Adult fiction that’s driving me over the edge. I like to read YA novels as they are usually quick reads and enjoyable escapism. The last few I picked up, though, have really ticked me off. I work hard to earn my money and I like to buy a book that is a complete story – with a beginning, middle and end. A denouement, if you will.
I like a series of books as well as the next person. I like to revisit characters from the first story in a series in the second story. What I don’t like and what is making me quite angry is this trend to not tie up loose ends in the first book in the series. In other words, try to manipulate the reader into being compelled to buy the next book in the series to see how the first one wraps up. I’ve read three YA novels in the last six months that have done just this- ended in media res- to find out how the character gets out of a situation, the reader must buy the next book. This to me is cheating the reader.
It may be that the book publishers think this is the only way to insure readers for a series of books. Or they may think since kids have some discretionary funds that this is the way to get their dollars without having an adult question why the kid didn’t get a whole book the first time they spent $8.99.
I say give me a compelling book that solves the problems of the character in a satisfying way and make me want to read the next one because I enjoyed the first one so much that I can’t wait for the second one, don’t try to manipulate me into buying a book. I won’t do it. I haven’t purchased the second ones on any of these and I won’t. I’ll go to the grave not knowing what happened to these characters just on the principal of the matter.
Jillian Chantal 
The last few YA’s I’ve read did the same thing. They are so desperate to find the next Twilight, publishers are resorting to some pretty irritating tactics. Maybe they should step back and see that the most successful series don’t end with massive cliffhangers. Give me a good ending that wraps up the story and I will be very anxious for a sequel. If I’m left hanging, I’m less likely to stick around for the next book, (if anything cliffhangers tell me they don’t have much faith in the next book and therefore need to figure out how to make people buy it). Let the characters and story be the selling point, not manipulation!
Great post! 🙂
By: C.B. Wentworth on May 19, 2011
at 12:27 am
thanks for the comment, CB. Well said. it seems we are in total agreement. this tactic is the pits and i hope it stops soon.
By: Jillian Chantal on May 19, 2011
at 6:37 am
I’ve seen this a lot in book II’s of a series. Even in adult. I don’t like it either. As a matter of fact, if I don’t LOVE the books, I won’t by the second one because I feel cheated.
By: Ciara Knight on May 19, 2011
at 5:34 am
ciara- i’ve only encountered it once so far in adult fiction and that was from an author that has a huge name and didn’t need to resort to that crap. agree about the feeling of being cheated.
By: Jillian Chantal on May 19, 2011
at 6:39 am
I agree. I Love series novels by both Adult and YA authors but each book should stand alone. The series I’ve read the longest is the Prey series by John Sandford and you could pick up in book in the list of over 20 and read and not feel like you missed something at the beginning or the end. Teasers are fine, but give me a complete story. Great post as always Jillian
By: Darlene on May 19, 2011
at 6:51 am
i agree about John Sandford. He always wraps up the action with a solution.
By: Jillian Chantal on May 19, 2011
at 7:12 am
I rarely read YA, but when I run across this in adult books, I don’t bother with the next one in the series. I’m with you: I want to read a book, see a resolution and an ending. If the next book starts off with something from the previous, that’s fine, but there has to be an end where I can say I felt satisfied reading it and I can’t wait to read more because I want to know what else is going to happen in the character’s life.
By: danicaavet on May 19, 2011
at 8:08 am
You are right- there needs to be a complete story and if the writer wants to pick up in the next book where they left off, I’m ok with that as long as I got a full story in book 1. I didn’t read much YA til last RWA conference when I picked some up at the autograph session.
By: Jillian Chantal on May 19, 2011
at 8:26 am
I so agree. You have to end the primary story line for the characters in the first book. There can be an overshadowing arc that can be left open, but I need answers to hold me over until the next installment when NEW problems need to be introduced. If I love the characters…and the world…I’ll read the next book. So giving me some resolution doesn’t make me want to read it less.
Great blog, Jillian! It looks like we’re all pretty much in agreement, eh? 🙂
By: Laurie Ryan on May 19, 2011
at 9:38 am
I think you said it better than I did, Laurie! Exactly on the overshadowing arc and the need for new problems. I’m glad we seem to have a consensus on this issue. I wanted to put a picture of one of the books on here but I have a submisson with the publisher and didn’t want to jinx that. LOL!
By: Jillian Chantal on May 19, 2011
at 9:52 am
I read a series like this recently. Actually picked up the middle book. I love this author or I doubt I would have purchased any of the other books.
I totally agree with everyone else. I don’t even like movies that have weak endings.
By: Lavada Dee on May 19, 2011
at 11:50 am
OOOh picking up the middle one would have spun me out! LOL! I agree about weak endings in movies, too.
By: Jillian Chantal on May 19, 2011
at 4:33 pm